Ball Arena sits at 1000 Chopper Circle in Denver’s Central Platte Valley, home to the Nuggets, Avalanche and Colorado Mammoth, and one of the busiest concert stops in the Rocky Mountain region. Longtime Denver locals still call it Pepsi Center, the name it carried from its October 1999 opening until Ball Corporation bought the naming rights in October 2020 — so if you’re searching for Pepsi Center capacity, the Pepsi Center bag policy, or Pepsi Center Denver parking, you’re looking for the same building and the same current rules.
Capacity shifts with the event, the bag rules trip up a lot of first-timers, and parking spans eight different lots at different price points. This guide breaks down exactly how many people the arena holds for every event type, the full bag policy, every parking option with current pricing ranges, and how to get there without a car.
- Colorado Avalanche played here 1999–present. See every Avalanche arena →
- Denver Nuggets played here 1999–present. See every Nuggets arena →
Quick Answer
Ball Arena holds about 19,520 for Denver Nuggets basketball, roughly 17,809 for Colorado Avalanche hockey and Colorado Mammoth lacrosse, and 20,000 or more for concerts, with a max capacity near 21,000 for full-house special events. The bag policy allows only small clutches, wristlets and fanny packs no larger than 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ — no backpacks or purses — there’s no re-entry once you’re inside, and on-site parking runs roughly $35 to $105 depending on the lot and event.
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How Many People Does Ball Arena Hold?
Capacity isn’t one fixed number — it depends on how the bowl is configured for that event. Ball Arena’s own figures put basketball (Nuggets) at about 19,520, hockey (Avalanche) and lacrosse (Mammoth) at about 17,809, and concerts at 20,000 or more. Because Pepsi Center and Ball Arena are the same building under different naming-rights eras, the Pepsi Center capacity you may see quoted elsewhere refers to this same seating bowl — only the sponsor name on the outside has changed.
For the ‘max capacity’ question specifically: special events and full end-stage concerts with a packed floor can push toward roughly 21,000, which is the ceiling most people mean when they ask how many people can fit in Ball Arena. A full end-stage show with a general-admission or fully seated floor sits near that top end. Center-stage or in-the-round setups, and tours with large stage builds that block off rear sightlines, seat noticeably fewer — which is why two tours in the same month can post very different ‘sold out’ totals for the same building.
Older sources, including earlier versions of this page, list 18,007 as the hockey capacity; that figure has since been updated, and 17,809 is the current number. The arena spans five levels on a 4.6-acre site, with suites and club seating adding to the sports totals, and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment operates it for roughly 250 events a year.
Ball Arena Bag Policy (Formerly Pepsi Center Bag Policy)
Whether you still think of it as the Pepsi Center or know it as Ball Arena, the bag policy is the part of the visit that trips up the most first-timers. Only small clutches, wristlets and fanny packs measuring 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ or smaller are allowed inside. Purses, backpacks, briefcases, luggage and hard-sided containers like coolers are not permitted, and a bag even a half-inch over the limit can be turned away at the door.
The one exception is medical and diaper bags up to 14″ x 14″ x 6″, which are allowed after inspection at a designated entrance and must stay with you for the entire event. All bags, jackets and guests are subject to screening on the way in.
If you arrive with a bag that doesn’t fit the rule, Binbox bag-check lockers near the Infinity Sculpture in the Grand Atrium charge $15 per bag, non-refundable, card or mobile pay only (no cash), and they open 30 minutes before doors and close an hour after the event. Because Ball Arena enforces a strict no re-entry policy, anything you check stays checked until the event ends, so it’s simpler to just leave bags at home or in the car.
A few other items worth knowing before you pack: personal point-and-shoot cameras are fine, but gear with telephoto or detachable lenses, external flash, tripods, monopods or selfie sticks is not. GoPros are permitted specifically at Nuggets, Avalanche and Mammoth games, but video recording and live streaming are prohibited at every event. Sealed water bottles aren’t allowed; an empty bottle without its lid is generally fine, though it’s worth checking the signage for your specific event. For anything unusual, Guest Relations can be reached at 303-405-8548.
Ball Arena Parking
Ball Arena parking runs through a set of Toyota-branded lots and garages that open about three hours before the event, with prices that shift by lot, proximity and event type. Typical ranges run from about $35 on the farthest lots (4Runner, Elitch’s, Corolla) up to roughly $70-$80 for the closest lot (RAV4/Premier) and $95-$105 for TRD-Pro valet at concerts. The Tundra lot is the one that takes cash, with a $5 discount for paying by card.
Prices can change on event night based on demand, so treat posted ranges as ballparks rather than guarantees, and buy ahead through Ticketmaster or the arena’s own site if you want a locked-in rate and a specific lot. ADA parking with a valid permit is first-come, first-served in the Camry North lot, the Tundra lot and the RAV4 lot.
Directions: from the south, take I-25 North to exit 210B (Auraria Parkway) and turn onto 7th, 9th or 11th Street. From the north, take I-25 South to exit 212B toward downtown, turn left on Speer Boulevard, then right on Chopper Circle. Arrive early for playoff games and big tours — the closest lots fill first.
Light Rail, Rideshare & Other Ways to Get There
The Ball Arena-Elitch Gardens light rail station sits right at the venue and is served by RTD’s C, E and W lines, with downtown’s D, H and L lines reachable via a short walk from Union Station about ten minutes away — an easy way to skip parking and lot traffic entirely. An RTD bus stop sits at 9th Street and Auraria Parkway.
Rideshare, taxi and limo drop-off is at the 4Runner West lot near 5th and Walnut Streets, and that same 4Runner West lot is also where accessible (ADA) pick-up and drop-off is located.
Seating Chart Tips for Concerts
Floor and lower-bowl sections closest to the stage sell first and cost the most; upper-level sections behind the stage or at steep side angles are usually the cheapest. Side-view lower-bowl seats often give the best balance of sightline and price, while the upper corners are the ones most likely to have a partly blocked view on a full-stage production.
Ball Arena’s seating chart changes with every event configuration, so use the interactive map on the event listing at Ticketmaster or the official site rather than a generic chart — it reflects which sections are actually on sale for that specific show.
Planning Your Visit: Tickets & Official Info
Tickets for Nuggets, Avalanche, Mammoth games and touring concerts are sold primarily through Ticketmaster and the team box offices, and entry at Ball Arena is digital-only — add tickets to a mobile wallet or team app ahead of time rather than relying on a printout or screenshot. Pricing tiers generally follow the seating-chart logic above: floor and lower-bowl seats cost the most, upper-level seats the least, with concert pricing also shifting by how an artist configures the stage.
Doors typically open well before puck drop, tip-off or showtime, and exact hours, pricing and event-specific rules (like added security for high-demand shows) can change by event. For the current schedule, hours and official policies, check the official Ball Arena site directly before you go.
Meets most arena and amphitheater clear-bag policies. Hands-free in the pit and quick through the gate.
Water on your back and hidden zip pockets against your body. Built for long festival days in crowds.
Charges fast enough to top up your phone between the opener and the headliner.
Ball Arena Denver capacity, bag policy & parking FAQs
How many people does Ball Arena hold?
Capacity depends on the event: about 19,520 for Nuggets basketball, about 17,809 for Avalanche hockey and Mammoth lacrosse, and 20,000 or more for concerts.
What is Ball Arena’s max capacity?
The highest the arena reaches is roughly 21,000, for full-house special events and end-stage concerts with a packed floor and no blocked sightlines.
How many people can fit in Ball Arena?
Up to roughly 21,000 in the biggest configurations; most games and typical concerts fall between about 17,800 and 20,000 depending on the setup.
Is the Pepsi Center the same as Ball Arena?
Yes. It’s the same Denver building — it was called Pepsi Center from its 1999 opening until Ball Corporation bought the naming rights in 2020, so Pepsi Center capacity and bag policy searches point to the same current information here.
What is the Ball Arena (Pepsi Center) bag policy?
Only small clutches, wristlets and fanny packs up to 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ are allowed; backpacks, purses and larger bags are not, aside from medical/diaper bags up to 14″ x 14″ x 6″ that pass inspection.
How much is parking at Ball Arena?
Roughly $35 on the farthest lots up to $70-$105 for the closest lot or valet, depending on the event — prices shift with demand, so book ahead through Ticketmaster or the arena’s site for a locked-in rate.
Can I bring a backpack or purse into Ball Arena?
No. Backpacks and purses of any size are prohibited; only clutches, wristlets and fanny packs at or under 4″ x 6″ x 1.5″ are permitted, plus inspected medical/diaper bags.
Is there re-entry at Ball Arena?
No. Once you leave, you can’t re-enter, so anything checked in a bag locker — or left in your car — stays there until the event ends.
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